The National Hockey League announced the 2026-27 regular-season schedule today, marking an expansion to 84 games per team. This season will consist of a record-high 1,344 regular-season games and is scheduled to conclude on Saturday, April 10.
The season officially commences on Tuesday, Sept. 29, featuring a tripleheader broadcast exclusively on ESPN in the United States and a doubleheader on Sportsnet in Canada. Opening night highlights include the Carolina Hurricanes raising their second Stanley Cup championship banner before playing the Florida Panthers at Lenovo Center.
The opening night schedule continues with several Original Six matchups and divisional contests. On Sept. 29, the Montreal Canadiens will visit the Toronto Maple Leafs, while the New York Rangers face the Boston Bruins. Additionally, the Vancouver Canucks will play the Edmonton Oilers, and the Chicago Blackhawks will travel to face the Vegas Golden Knights.
The following night, Wednesday, Sept. 30, will mark TNT's season debut with a doubleheader featuring the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Philadelphia Flyers and the Los Angeles Kings at the Colorado Avalanche.
A new feature for the 2026-27 season is a series of Monday weekday matinee games designed to provide primetime opportunities for international fans in European markets. This initiative aims to deepen the league's connection with global audiences while offering unique fan experiences in North American markets.
Several marquee outdoor and international events are included in the upcoming schedule:
The 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic will take place on Oct. 25 at Princess Auto Stadium, featuring the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens.
The NHL Global Series will hold games in Finland featuring the Carolina Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken in November, and in Germany featuring the Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks in December.
The Discover NHL Winter Classic is scheduled for New Year's Eve at Rice-Eccles Stadium, where the Utah Mammoth and Colorado Avalanche will compete outdoors.
The 2027 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series will feature the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights at AT&T Stadium on February 20.
The Honda NHL All-Star Weekend is slated for February 5-6 at UBS Arena on Long Island, featuring the 2027 NHL All-Star Skills competition and a three-on-three, round-robin tournament between teams representing Canada, Finland, Sweden, the United States, and a World team.
National broadcast partners for the season include ESPN/ABC, TNT Sports, and Sportsnet. The Stanley Cup Final will be televised exclusively on TNT in the U.S. and on Sportsnet in Canada.
